Gas burner lighter mechanism



June 30, 1964 YosHlo KANAMARU ETAL 3,138,945

GAS BURNER LIGHTER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1965INVENTOR YOSHIO KANAMARU HTSUNEO OKABE ATTORNEYS United States Patent OM v 3,138,945 GAS BURNER LIGHTER MECHANISM Yoshio Kanamaru, Chiyoda-ku,and Tsuneo Okabe, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan, assignors to KanamaruShoten, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Mar. 11, 1963,Ser. No. 264,149 2 Claims. (Cl. 677.1)

The present application relates to gas fueled cigarette lighters,particularly a mechanism for precisely regulating the flow of thepressurized fuel from the lighter reservoir to the spark producingmechanism.

Previous inventors have attacked the problem Vof regulating the flow ofpressurized fuels such as butane in a cigarette lighter so as toeffectively control the height of the flame developed at the lighterexterior. A significant patent in this respect is Nissen 2,747,349wherein the fuel flow is regulated by means of a piercing pin whichpierces a slug of deformable material. However, since the piercing isrequired to be effected by the user of the lighter, the diameter of thepierced hole is variable and inasmuch as the deformable material is ofindeterminate depth, precise control of the pressurized fuel flow cannotbe obtained.

According to the present invention, the fuel ow regulating mechanismconsists in a housing having an inner axial passage with a conicalconfiguration at its lower end and a piston of complementary conicalconfiguration ver-v tically reciprocable within the inner axial passage.By vertically reciprocating the piston within the inner axial passagefuel fiow is regulated as a limit of friction encountered by thepressurized fuel in its travel between the opposed conical surfaces ofpiston and the axial npassage. Consequently a very precise control isachieved. Also, the lower part of theV piston is especially configuredto actually protrude within a narrow bottom orifice of the axial passagewhich is in itself protected by a bottom flange so as to eliminateoversupply or surging. of fuel to the fuel fiow regulatingmechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide in a gas fueledlighter an improved fuel flow control mechanism.

Another object of invention is to provide in a gas fueled lighter meansfor precisely controlling the degree of fuel flow.

Yet additional objects of invention will become apparent from theensuing specification and attached draw-l ings wherein: n

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a gas fuel lighter, showing the fillingvalve and burner or fuel flow regulating mechanism positioned inwardlyof the casing; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the burner mechanism, showing thehousing with inner axial passage and cornplementary piston verticallyreciprocated therein.

In FIG. 1 the cigarette lighter is shown as comprising a conventionalspark producing mechanism 10, a lighter body 12 which forms thepressurized fuel reservoir, a burner 14 and an inlet or filling valve16.

In FIG. 2 the invention is more particularly illustrated, burnermechanism 14 consisting of a cylindrical housing 18 connected to thecasing by thread means and having an axial fuel supply passage,including a lower conically shaped portion 20, terminating in a bottomorifice 28, protected by flange 42 having lateral fuel entry ports 44.The flow of fuel through the burner is indicated by arrows. A piston 22having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower conical portion 24complementary to the conical portion is vertically reciprocated withinthe axial passage. The lowermost tip 40 of piston 22 is extensible intoorifice 28. As will be apparent, conical portion 24 of piston 22 isnormally spaced by a small gap 26 from corresponding conical portion 20of the 3,138,945 Patented June 30, 1964 ICC axial passage. This gapcontrols the supply of fuel through the lateral ports of secondary fuelpassage 32 in piston 22 and exteriorly of the lighter to a positionadjacent the spark producing mechanism 10. Adjustor piece 30 isthreadedly engaged to that portion of the burner housing 18 whichextends exteriorly of the casing `and engages the top portion 33 ofpiston 22 so asto limit vertical reciprocation thereof. Packing 34 maybeprovided above lateral ports 35, and intermediate piston 22 and housing18, thus sealing off fuel flow and requiring flow only through ports 35and passage 32. A first compression spring 36 may be providedintermediate piston 22 and adjustor 30 so as to urge the piston 22upwardly and provide sufficient friction against adjustor 30. A sec--ond compression spring 38 may be positioned intermediate the housingcylinder 18 and the adjustor piece 30 so as to'provide the propertightness for adjustment turning of piece 30. Packing 46 maybe presentedintermediate cylinder 18 and the lighter casing. As illustrated in FIG.1, a flint supply tube 48 with closing screw 50 may communicate with thespark producing mechanism 10.

` When it is desired to use the lighter the spark producing mechanism 10is depressed thereby releasing packing .52 from the top of secondaryfuel passage 32. The fuel'in the reservoir thereby enters the burnermechanism through orifice 28. Simultaneously lateral ports 44 which maybe four in number operate to eliminate the surging of butane intoorifice 28 with consequent instability of flame. The infiowing fuelvolume is controlled not only by the diameter of tubular orifice 28 butalso by the dimension of cylindrical tip 40. It is found that by havingtip 40` at the end of piston conical portion 24 a much more precisecontrol of fuel flow is achieved, than if the inner axial passage andpiston were to have simply corresponding conical surfaces. Thus, slightmovements of adjustor 30 may result in precise positioning of tip 40with respect to passage 28 so as to control the fuel supply. As the fuelenters orifice 28 and proceeds upwardly through gap 26 between theopposed conical surfaces 24 and 20, it encounters more friction. Thereis, in fact, a geometric increase of friction which is the result ofeffecting depressurization of the fuel. The depressurized fuel thenpasses through lateral ports 35 and up vertical channel 32 where it iscaught by the spark of mechanism 10.

inasmuch as all of the parts are made of brass or like metallicmaterials there is no problem of wearing out of the depressurizingcomponents. The shape of the opposed conical surfaces of the piston andaxial passage may be changed in accordance with the necessity and choiceof the manufacturer. In principle, the sharper the angle of the conicalsurfaces, the more friction is applied to the passing fuel. Also, thelarger the area of the conical surface the more the friction. Of course,the infiow of fuel can be controlled by changing the diameter of oriflce28, a larger diameter being capable of supplying more fuel. Also, inflowcan be controlled by changing the dimensions of tip 40. The longer andthe closer tip 40 is to the wall of the hole 28, the lesser the flow ofincoming fuel. Thus, tip 40 gives additional friction to incoming fuelbefore it gets the main friction encountered by the opposed conicalsurfaces 24 and 20 defining gap 26. Experimentation has shown that bymaking tip 40 longer, it is quite easy to get twice as much variation inflame height in terms of degree of twisting of adjustor 30. Sinceadjustor 30 and piston 22 are separated the turning of adjustor 30 doesnot result in turning of piston 22. This eliminates wearing of packing34, which is a major shortcoming of conventional gas fuel flow regulatormechanisms. By utilizing the opposed conical surfaces 24 and 20 as themain medium to frictionize the iiowing fuel and thereby effectivelydepressurize the fuel, there is obtained not only a geometricallyincreasing friction but also a very delicate control of fuel flow. Thefuel ow in gap 26 is dependent, of course, upon the lateral dimensionsof this gap and may be calculated by simple trigonometry as follows:

(1) a=the angle of the conical surfaces 24 and 20 (2) b=the verticalmovement of piston 22, caused by the turning of adjustor 30 (3) y=thegap between 20 and 24 through which the pressurized fuel flows Thus, itwill be seen pressurized fuel flow is controlled to a very precisedegree by the principle of geometrically increasing friction. As aresult, an exceptionally constant flame of the desired height is readilyprovided.

Manifestly, various changes in construction and substitution of partsmay be employed without departing from the spirit and scope ofinvention, as dened in subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A gas fueled lighter comprising:

(A) a casing with a reservoir constructed to hold fuel under pressure;

(B) a gas fuel filling Valve mounted in said casing and communicatingwith said reservoir;

(C) a spark producing mechanism mounted upon the exterior of said casingand including a flint holding tube extending through said reservoir;

(D) a burner mounted in said casing and interconnecting said reservoirand said spark producing mechanism, said burner including;

(i) a housing with an axial primary fuel passage having an uppercylindrical portion extending above said casing, a median downwardlytapering conical portion having its largest diameter adjacent said uppercylindrical portion, narrow lower orifice and a bottom flange encirclingsaid bottom orifice and including lateral fuel entry ports;

(ii) a complementary piston vertically reciprocated within said primaryfuel passage and itself comprising an upper cylindrical portion and alower conical portion with a protruding tip extensible into the bottomorifice of said primary fuel passage, said upper cylindrical portionincluding a secondary fuel passage consisting of lateral ports openingfrom the sides of said conical portion into a vertical channel extendingthrough the cylindrical portion and outside of said housing to anexterior position adjacent said spark producing mechanism; and (iii) afuel ow adjustor piece engaging the exteriorly extended portion of saidhousing and the top of said vertically reciprocated complementarypiston, limiting vertical reciprocation of said piston and thus theposition of said piston conical portion with respect to the conicalportion of said axial passage as a limit of fuel flow through saidprimary fuel passage;

(iv) first spring means intermediate said housing and said adjustor andsecond spring means intermediate said housing and said piston; and

(v) rst packing means interposed between said piston and said primarypassage above said lateral ports and second packing means interposedbetween said housing and said reservoir.

2. A gas fueled lighter as in claim l, wherein the position of saidpiston conical portion with respect to the conical portion of said axialpassage is determinate of fuel flow according to the following formula:

a=angle of conical portions b=vertical reciprocation of said pistony=distance between opposed conical portions y=b sin a/ 2.

References Cited in the file of this patent

1. A GAS FUELED LIGHTER COMPRISING: (A) A CASING WITH A RESEVOIRCONSTRUCTED TO HOLD FUEL UNDER PRESSURE; (B) A GAS FUEL FILLING VALVEMOUNTED IN SAID CASING AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RESERVOIR; (C) ASPARK PRODUCING MECHANISM MOUNTED UPON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CASING ANDINCLUDING A FLINT HOLDING TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID RESERVOIR; (D) ABURNER MOUNTED IN SAID CASING AND INTERCONNECTING SAID RESERVOIR ANDSAID SPARK PRODUCING MECHANISM, SAID BURNER INCLUDING; (I) A HOUSINGWITH AN AXIAL PRIMARY FUEL PASSAGE HAVING AN UPPER CYLINDRICAL PORTIONEXTENDING ABOVE SAID CASING, A MEDIAN DOWNWARDLY TAPERING CONICALPORTION HAVING ITS LARGEST DIAMETER ADJACENT SAID UPPER CYLINDRICALPORTION, NARROW LOWER ORIFICE AND A BOTTOM FLANGE ENCIRCLING SAID BOTTOMORIFICE AND INCLUDING LATERAL FUEL ENTRY PORTS; (II) A COMPLEMENTARYPISTON VERTICALLY RECIPROCATED WITHIN SAID PRIMARY FUEL PASSAGE ANDITSELF COMPRISING AN UPPER CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND A LOWER CONICALPORTION WITH A PROTUDING TIP EXTENSIBLE INTO THE BOTTOM ORIFICE OF SAIDPRIMARY FUEL PASSAGE, SAID UPPER CYLINDRICAL PORTION INCLUDING ASECONDARY FUEL PASSAGE CONSISTING OF LATERAL PORTS OPENING FROM THESIDES OF SAID CONICAL PORTION INTO A VERTICAL CHANNEL EXTENDING THROUGHTHE CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND OUTSIDE OF SAID HOUSING TO AN EXTERIORPOSITION ADJACENT SAID SPARK PRODUCING MECHANISM; AND (III) A FUEL FLOWADJUSTOR PIECE ENGAGING THE EXTERIORLY EXTENDED PORTION OF SAID HOUSINGAND THE TOP OF SAID VERTICALLY RECIPROCATED COMPLEMENTARY PISTON,LIMITING VERTICAL RECIPROCATION OF SAID PISTON AND THUS THE POSITION OFSAID PISTON CONICAL PORTION WITH RESPECT TO THE CONICAL PORTION OF SAIDAXIAL PASSAGE AS A LIMIT OF FUEL FLOW THROUGH SAID PRIMARY FUEL PASSAGE;(IV) FIRST SPRING MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID HOUSING AND SAID ADJUSTOR ANDSECOND SPRING MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID HOUSING AND SAID PISTON; AND (V)FIRST PACKING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PISTON AND SAID PRIMARYPASSAGE ABOVE SAID LATERAL PORTS AND SECOND PACKING MEANS INTERPOSEDBETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SAID RESERVOIR.